Valve for heating systems



Oct. 18, 1938. c g o u 2,133,928

VALVE FOR HEATING SYSTEMS Original Filed Dec. 5, 1935 Jab /N VEN TO I? ATTOI? EY Patented Oct. 18, 1938 UNITE-D STATE$ VALVE FOR. HEATING SYSTEMS Charles B. Simoneau, Lynn, Mass.

Application December 3, 1935, Serial No. 52,670 Renewed March 14, 1938 7 Claims.

My present invention comprises a dual-float, vacuum check, thermostatic valve, with dual vent control, for use on radiators of heating systems. It provides novel means for maintaining the valve in closed position, for increasing the period of valve closure during heat rest periods, for providing regulated control of air venting, for increasing and retarding the speed of venting all radiators in a heating system with resultant uniform delivery of heat to the radiators, and the maintenance of vacuums in the valve units and radiators whereby the speed of heating is accelerated. Other advantages, not mentioned herein, will be understood by those skilled in the art.

The drawing that accompanies this application for a patent as a part thereof shows a valve unit partly in longitudinal section.

Referring to the drawing, I provide a base i of usual construction having an externally threaded port 2 and a drain tube 3, a cylindrical casing 4 mounted on base I as at 5, the casing having a top 6 mounted as at I, the joints 5 and 1 being of suitable construction to prevent leaking, base I, casing 4 and top 6 forming a chamber 8 operatively connected with the heating system (not shown) through port 2. At the bottom of chamber 8 is a rectangular plate 9 having 'at its center an upwardly projecting part In. Normally resting on plate 9 is a thermostatic, hermetically sealed float I I, the bottom of which I la. is flexible, normally concave with relation to projection l0 and recessed by means of an annular groove 1 lb so that the lower edge of the float rests normally upon plate 9. Within float H is a volatile fluid which is expansible upon application of heat thereto. A plate 9a is affixed to the top of float II and has a projection 92) thereon. Positioned on plate 9a is a second float l2, of similar construction as float ll except that it is not sealed.

40 .Normally, the lower edge of float l2 rests upon plate 911. Projecting from the top of float I2 is a conical valve l3. Adjustably mounted in the top of the casing is a valve seat I4 having external threads Ma which engage internal threads 6a in top 6, and positioned to receive valve 13. A

bore [3a extends longitudinally through valve I3 to the interior of float I 2 and is smaller in diameter than the port. A tube l5 projects from float 12 through valve. l3 and port I4, the lower 50 end of the tube being preferably near the bottom of the float and its upper end extending beyond the outer end of the valve seat to near the top of cap 16. This tube is held in fixed position with relation to float l2 by swaging the valve around it or by other suitable means. Mounted on the (Cl. 2366l) top of the casing is a vent cap I6 having in its side a vent Ito. and. in its top an internally threaded opening ltb adapted to receive an externally threaded vent tube I! of smaller external diameter than the valve seat structure l4 and of greater internal diameter than tube !5 and port M. The top of tube l! is providedwith a boss Ila by which the tube may be turned for adjustment purposes as will be described hereinafter, and in the boss is a vent llh from tube ll.

When my device is in operative position on a radiator the introduction of steam forces out any air that may be in the heating system until steam enters chamber 8 in the unit to expand the volatile fluid in float H, which expansion distends bottom Ha of float ll against projection ll! and causes float l2 and valve it to rise and close port Hi. When steam lessens in the unit a vacuum is created in chamber 8, float II contracts and atmospheric pressure through tube [5 is ex erted upon the flexible bottom IZa of float l2; but its expansion is delayed by the upward pressure of float ll until the bottom of float H has receded to its normal concave position, the bottom I2a of float l2 continuing to expand until the vacuum is overcome by the opening of the. valve. Port l4 having been adjusted with relation to valve IS in assembling the unit to prevent continued closure of the port when bottom IZa oi float 2| is fully distended and bottom I id of float ll is in normal concave position, when the flexible bottoms have reached-these positions valve i3 recedes from port l4 to open position.

While the valve is in closed position, the lessening of steam in the unit creates a vacuum therein and this vacuum is maintained until the valve opens as described, thus preventing the entrance of cold air to chill the heating system during usual intermittent rest periods of the heater. This vacuum also draws steam into the system during such rest periods. Upon resumption of steam projection into the system the vacuum eliminates the necessity of forcing air from the system, thus increasing the speed of heating, as under ordinary operating conditions little or no air is admitted to the system for the reason that in practice the unit seldom becomes cool enough to recede and open the port during intermittent rest periods.

By means of my vent regulator the amount of air'to be vented from the radiators is controlled and balanced in a manner that has not been heretofore practiced. This regulator supplies means for control of venting so that air may be vented through vent I'lb acting alone or through vent 11b and vent l6a acting together.

In the event that water enters the unit, it causes float H to rise and carry with it float l2 and valve l3 to close port I4. If the water continues to rise thereafter, float H becomes submerged and its increased buoyancy resulting therefrom maintains valve I3 in firmly closed position, thus preventing water from passing therethrough, and the valve remains closed until the water has receded from the unit.

For single venting, tube I! is screwed down to meet the top of valve seat [4, thus closing vent Mia and venting takes place only through Hb. To obtain venting through both vents, tube I! is turned to raise its lower end from valve seat M. The amount of venting is thus regulated to the needs of the radiator. In this way the amount of venting at any radiator throughout the heat distributing system is adjustable according to the position of the radiator with relation to the heater, the more distant radiators being provided with freer venting than those nearer to the heater with resultant speeding up of the heating of the radiators in a manner that will be understood by those skilled in the art, the more remote radiators being thus heated more quickly and more uniformly with relation to the nearer radiators than heretofore.

As is known to those skilled in the art and to users of radiator valves, occasions arise when, by reason of deposits of solid material, the valves become clogged so as to prevent free passage of air therefrom, with resultant slowing down of the free entry of the heating medium to the radiators. I provide a simple means for correcting this condition without removing the valve from the radiator. This comprises the removal of vent tube l1 and with a piece of metal or other convenient article shaped to reach the upper end of tube [5, pressing down upon the tube so that valve I3 recedes from valve port I4, whereupon steam pressure will drive steam through the port and clean the valve in a manner that will be readily understood.

My invention is illustrated in the drawing and described herein for the purpose of explanation;

but I do not mean to be limited thereby as modiflcations thereof performing the functions thereof come within its scope.

Having described my invention and its mode of operation, what I claim is:

1. In a device of the class described having a valve mounted upon a floatand a valve port for venting, means for providing regulated control of venting, said means comprising a vent cap, a vent in said cap, a movable vent tube mounted in said cap, a vent in said vent tube, a tube mounted in the valve float and projecting into the vent tube and means on the vent tube for moving said vent tube towards and away from the valve port, as described.

2. In a device of the class described having a valve and adjustable valve port for vent control,

means for closing the valve, said means comprismeans for providing regulated control of venting, said means comprising a vent cap, a vent in said cap, a movable vent tube mounted in said cap, a

vent in said vent tube, a tube mounted in the valve float and projecting into the vent tube and means on the vent tube for moving the vent tube towards and away from the valve port, as described.

3. In a device of the class described having a valve and adjustable valve port for vent control, means for closing the valve and holding the valve in closed position, said means comprisin a thermostatic float, a flexible valve float having mounted thereon said valve positioned to close the valve port upon expansion of the thermostatic float, the flexible valve float being open to atmospheric pressure and expanded thereby upon contraction of the thermostatic float, and means for providing regulated control of venting, said means comprising a vent cap, a vent in said cap, a movable vent tube mounted in said cap, a vent in said vent tube, a tube mounted in the valve float and projecting into the vent tube and means on the vent tube for moving the vent tube towards and away from the valve port, as described.

4. In a device of the class described, means for providing regulated control of venting, said means comprising a vent cap, a vent in said cap, a movable vent tube mounted in said cap, a vent in said vent tube, the vent in the cap and the vent in the tube Venting to the atmosphere independently of each other and means on the vent tube for moving said vent tube towards and away from the valve port to vary the effectiveness of the cap vent.

5. In a device of the class described, means for providing regulated conrol of venting, said means comprising an adjustable valve port, a vent cap, a vent in said cap, a movable vent tube :mounted in said cap, a vent in said vent tube, the vent in the cap and the vent in the tube venting to the atmosphere independently of each other and means on the vent tube for moving the vent tube towards and away from the valve port to vary the effectiveness of the cap vent.

6. In a device of the class described having 'a valve mounted upon a float, means for'providing regulated control of venting, said means comprising an adjustable valve port, 'a vent cap, a vent in said cap, a movable vent tube mounted in said cap, a vent in said vent tube, a tube mounted in the valve float and projecting into the vent tube, and means on the vent tube for moving the vent tube towards and away from the valve port, as described.

7. In a device of the class described having a valve and valve port for venting, means m closing the valve and holding the valve in closed position, said means comprising a thermostatic float, a flexible valve float having mounted thereon said valve to close the valve port upon expansion of the thermostatic float, the flexible float being open to atmospheric pressure and expanded thereby upon contraction of the thermostatic float, and means for providing regulated control of venting, said means comprising a valve port adjustable with relation to the valve, a vent cap, a vent in said cap, a movable vent tube mounted in said cap, a vent in said vent tube, a tube mounted in the valve float and projecting into the vent tube. and means on the vent tube for moving the vent tube towards andaway from the valve port, as described.

CHARLES B. 'SIMONEAU. 

